Winner: Kim Wheeler!

This contest is now closed. Thanks for participating!

Scrap Quilt Secrets by Diane Knott

Did you see this book in the newest issue of Love of Quilting magazine? It definitely caught my eye! Scrap Quilt Secrets by Diane Knott is a must have. Read about Diane’s expertise with color and scraps and how she uses EQ.

EQ: Hi Diane! I noticed your book, Scrap Quilt Secrets, in the newest issue of Love of Quilting. Tell us a bit about it!
Diane: Thanks Christine, I’ve been giving quilt presentations and teaching workshops for a few years and I noticed that I kept getting the same questions over and over again. Basically, it seemed like most people wanted to know more about the process or steps I take to create my own bright scrappy quilts designs with hundreds of fabrics in them, from traditional two or three color vintage quilt designs. So I came up with the S.C.R.A.P.S. (Style, Contrast, Repetition, Accent, Palette, and Selvages) system to explain my process.
Scrap quilts are so popular and diverse!

EQ: What’s your favorite quilt in your book and why?
Diane: That would depend on what day it is. My favorite quilt is usually the one I’m currently working on, but the one that is really special to me from the book is called Paper Chains. I loved to make paper chains from strips of colored paper when I was a kid. I always thought it would be fun to create those chains in fabric. By using simple four patches and Drunkard’s Path blocks I was able to create the woven effect. I want to make this quilt again in blues, purples and pinks. Honestly though, I think any color combination would work.

Paper Chains Quilt

Paper Chains Quilt

PaperChainsEQ7

Paper Chains in EQ7


EQ: Can you give away one of your “secrets” from your book?
Diane: Sure! Secrets are only fun when they are shared. One of my favorite secrets comes from the chapter about using Accents. Often folks think of scrappy quilts as quilts that have every random fabric from the bin. And that can work, but it will look much more organized or ‘pulled together’ if you add a fabric that works as an accent. The quilt Detour has almost every shade of every color in it, including some rather crazy prints. The addition of the blue/turquoise check fabric really helps organize and calm down the design. EQ7 is great for figuring out the yardage needed for an accent fabric.

detour

Detour Quilt

EQ: How did you benefit from using EQ7 for the quilts in your book?
Diane: I use EQ7 in a couple of different ways actually. The most frequent thing I use it for is block design. When I get an idea for a block or a combination of blocks, I like to draw them and save them for later. I don’t try to design the whole quilt, just the blocks so I can reference them. I shade them usually in white, and light grey and dark grey so I can remember where I want the light, medium and dark scraps to go. Later I can go back and insert color choices.

The other way I find EQ7 helpful is for auditioning options. Once the quilt is fairly well designed, I will change the shading to see what color placements can be reversed. I’ll also audition sashing and border options to see if I want to add them. The block below ended up in a quilt in the book, but it’s got a great pieced sashing that creates and secondary pattern.

Occasionally, I will design the entire quilt from start to finish in EQ7. That doesn’t mean I always stick to the plan, but it gives me a blueprint to work from. I joke that all of my quilts are mystery quilts, because even I don’t know how they will turn out.  Paper Chains actually worked out perfectly in EQ7 and didn’t need any changes.

block

EQ: How long have you been using EQ and how did you first hear about it?
Diane: I’ve been using it for probably 6 or 7 years now. My husband gave it to me as a birthday gift (I may have dropped some serious hints!) I had heard of other quilters who used it and liked it. I was curious to see what I could do with it.

EQ: How did you learn to use the program?
Diane: I followed the instructions and read the book! Then it was mostly trial and error. I find that the longer I use it the more I learn. I also learned that Matt (in tech support) has the patience of a saint. He never once laughed at me, and I’m sure that wasn’t easy.

EQ: Would you recommend EQ7 to other quilters?
Diane: Absolutely! I would encourage folks to learn it little by little. It’s got so many things to offer but it’s not a race. You don’t need to ‘know it all’ to start. Just start simple and learn with experience. I’m sure that there is still a lot of things I don’t know about it, but I really have fun with it anyway.

For more photos from the book, visit Diane’s website: www.butterflythreadsquilting.com
You’ll also find Diane’s blog, workshop information, class schedules and updates on all her quilting adventures. Additionally, you’ll find a link to her online shop where her book, patterns and templates can be purchased.

Giveaway!

scrapquiltsecrets

Diane will ship a copy of her book to one random winner.
To enter, click “Leave a comment” below to answer this question:

What’s your favorite local quilt shop? (Please include name and city/state.)

Contest closes Monday, June 6th at 9am Eastern.

(This contest is open to U.S. residents only.)